Veneer gluing machine



April 11, 1950 G.,M. GusTlN 2,503,551

VENEER GLumG naam:

Filed 'June 14, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1- I/'ama F33 3 www@ A TT ORNE Y 5Sheets-Sheet 2 G. M. GUSTIN VENEER GLUING MACHINE April ll, 1950 FiledJune 14, 194e ENToR. G'EOEGEM 'z/a'y/N, BY:

ATTORNEY' APl'il 11 l950 G. M. GusTlN A 2,503,551

VENEER GLUING MACHINE Filed June 14, 1946 3 sheeis-sheet s l I IINVENTOR. -GfaGEM 'wfr/N,

A TTUFNEY Patented Apr. ll, 1950 VENEER GLUINGIMACHTNE George M. Gustln,Wabash, Ind., assignor to The G. M. Diehl Machine Works, Inc., Wabash,Ind.,

a corporation of Indiana Application June 14, 1946, Serial No. 676,845

15 Claims. (Cl. 14d-279) The present invention relates to a veneergluing machine, and is particularly adapted for use in connection with amachine of the character disclosed in my priorA Patent No. 2,372,894,the features of the present invention being, essentially, improvementsand refinements upon the structure disclosed in the said prior patent.

While the invention is particularly concerned with machines in whichglue is spread upon the mutually facing edge surfaces of veneer sheetsto be edge-joined, and for subsequently bringing those faces intoabutting engagement and hardening the glue, it will be apparent that atleast some features of the invention are' adaptable to machines ofgenerally similar characteristics, but in which the first step in theoperation is thev moistening of the glue previously applied to thesurfaces to be joined; or to machines of still different characteristicsin which the advantages of the features disclosed and claimed hereinfind utility.

The primary objects of the present invention are to improve theapplication of glue or moisture to the surfaces to be joined, tominimize the tendency of such machines to leave deposits of glue on theupper faces of the' pieces being joined, and to improve the feed of thepieces being handled to and through the machine. Further objects of theinvention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention maybe embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that change may be made in the specicconstruction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of portions of a machineconstructed generally in accordance with the disclosure of my said priorPatent 2,372,894 but incorporating my present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged similar elevation of certain of the parts shown inFig. l, some of the parts being shown in section for clarity ofillustration:

Fig. 3 is a transverse section, taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view, showing the conveyor units and feedroll;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a wiper element; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective, illustrating the mannerin which the improved scrapervelements cooperate with the glue-applyingdisc.

The general construction and operation of the machine, in connectionwith which my present invention is described andk illustrated, are wellknown in the art, and are specifically set forth in my said prior Patent2,372,894. Briefly, it may be stated here that the machine comprises thebase I0 mounting the support or bed II constructed and arranged tosupport two veneer sheets, or the like, in edge-facing relation, and tomove said sheets together, in that relation, through the machine past aglue-applying or moistening station, with the facing edges of the twosheets slightly separated, and thereafter to bring the facing edges ofthe two sheets into abutting relation and to heat the joint between thesheets to cause the glue to set. 'I'he support II is formed with a pairof slots I2 and I3 (see Fig. 4) converging as they progress from theintake end to the discharge end of the machine, through which theserrated upper surfaces of the links of a pair of continuous conveyorunits I4 and I5 are operatively presented to the two sheets of veneer tobe moved through the machine. Suitable power means is connected to drivethe two conveyor units and the other moving elements of the machine.'Ihe details of the structure thus far described form no part of thepresent invention.

A shaft I6, journalled on suitable bearings depending from the bed II,supports a sprocket II over which runs one bight of the conveyor unitI5, and a corresponding sprocket (not shown) for the corresponding bightof the conveyor unit I4. Because of the convergence of the slots I2 andI3, and of the conveyor units I4 and I5,

there is a constant tendency for the bights in the conveyor unitsrunning over the sprockets on the shaft I6 to move toward each other. Ihave taken advantage of that fact to provide an improvement in the feedmeans of the machine, by mounting loosely upon the shaft I6, between thetwo conveyor units, a feed roller I 8, which preferably takes the formillustrated in Fig. 4, comprising the two lands 20 and 2|, separated bya groove 22 which coincides with the spacing between the two sheets ofveneer as they move through the machine. A presser roller 23 is suitablysupported above the bed II in registry with the roller I8, so that theveneer sheets are engaged between the rollers I8 and 23.

The provision of the roller pair I8 and 23 improves the feedingoperation of the machine, in that the rollers can take a grip on theveneer sheets closer to the intake end of the machine than can theconveyor units I4 and I5 and their cooperating parts. On the other hand,it would not be feasible to drive the roller I8 with the shaft I8,because of the difference between the pitch diameter of the conveyorchains, as they move about their sprockets, and the pitch diameter ofthe roller. Because of the tendency of the conveyor chains to movetoward each other, both units I4 and I5 frictionally engage the roller Ito provide a friction drive thereof permitting, when necessary, slippageof the roller ll, with respect to the conveyor units. in eitherdirection.

In accordance with standard practice, the bed Il is provided with a n24, in advance of the glue-applying station, which properly determinesthe relative positions of the two sheets to be joined, as they approachthat station. Whenever, in the present specification, the termglueapplying station, or any similar term, is used, it is to beunderstood to apply to a station at which glue is applied to the sheetsor at which glue previously applied is moistened. A glue applying disc25 is mounted to project through a slot 25' in the bed Il to a levelabove the top surface of veneer sheets supported upon the bed and movingpast the disc. The peripheral portion of said disc is bevelled in bothdirections, as indicated at 26, to produce a relatively sharp edge.suitably supported beneath the bed is a glue pot 21 into which dips aportion of the periphery of a glue delivery wheel 28. formed with aperipheral groove into which dips a portion of the periphery of the disc25. Since the disc 25 and the wheel 28 are continuously driven, it willbe seen that glue is continuously delivered by the wheel 28 from the pot21 to the disc 25, and that the radial extent of the film of gluedelivered to the disc 25 will be constant, dependent upon the degree ofprojection of the disc 25 into the groove of the wheel 28, regardless ofthe level of the gluein the pot 21. The disc 25 is mounted upon a shaft28 which may be driven from the shaft I6; and the disc 25 is preferablyflanked by rollers 30 and 3| with which cooperate presser rollers 32.

A bracket 33 is formed with a vertical bore 34 in which is reciprocablymounted a stem 35 of a wiper unit, a screw 36, threadedly mounted in abracket projection 31, bearing upon the upper end of said stem to adjustthe degree of pressure exerted by said unit. At its lower end, the stem35 carries a foot 38 to the lower surface of which are secured aplurality of spring fingers or plates 39, inclining downwardly and'toward the delivery end of the machine, and terminating in spatulae 40pointing toward the delivery end of the machine. The fingers 38 areproportioned and designed to bridge the space between a pair of sheetsmoving through the machine.

It has been found that, as veneer sheets move past the disc 25, arelatively small amount of glue is deposited on their facing edges bythat portion of the disc which rises as it passes the sheets; while alarger proportion of glue is depcsited on the sheets by that portion ofthe disc which is moving downwardly as it passes the sheets. An excessof glue is usually provided, and it has been found that some of thatglue will be wiped olf the descending .portion of the disc by the uppercorners ol the veneer sheet edges, and will be deposited upon the uppersurfaces of the sheets closely adjacent to those edges. The spatulae 40,therefore, serve'a double function, holding the veneer sheet edgesagainst buckling and wrinkling, and at the same time wiping the gluedeposited upon the upper surfaces of the sheets and tending to forcethat glue back into the space between the facing edges of the sheets.

Preferably, the foot 38 carries two spring units 55, near its intakeend, constructed otherwise to conform to the nngers 39, and terminatingin similar spatulae 40', but split or bifurcated to straddle the disc25, in the manner most clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5.

Engagement of the veneer sheets with the disc 25 as portions of the discrise past said sheets tends to spread the glue radially inwardly on saiddisc, as will be clear from a consideration of Fig. 2. Continuousoperation over relatively long periods will spread and increasinglythicken the film of glue over the radially inward portions of said disc.In the past. it has been customary to provide so-called scraper fingerscooperative with the disc at a point between the glue supply station andthe glue delivery station; but the function of those fingers, in thepast, has been to limit the thickness of the glue film carried by thedisc to the delivery station, and consequently those lingers haveinvariably been set to clear the disc surfaces by a carefully calculateddecimal of an inch.

Because of the difficulty of attaining and maintaining absolute ilngersetting, and more particularly because of the fact that, after some-use, the disc 25 will frequently run out of true,

those scraper arrangements have been far from satisfactory in theirresults. Uniformity of glue lm thickness has been found. to becommercially unattainable upon the theory of such devices.

I have therefore proceeded to 'an entirely new theory formaintaininguniform glue delivery.

Upon a bracket 4| which may be carried by the glue pot, I secure, bymeans of a screw 42, whose axis is substantially normal to the verticalplane including the axis of the disc 25, one end 43 of a resilientspring leaf 44. In 'a preferred embodiment, which renders said screwreadily accessible, the leaf end 43 is rebent, as shown. 'Ihe free endof the leaf 44 carries, by means of a pair of screws 45and 45, whoseaxes are likewise substantially normal to the above mentioned plane. apair of L-shaped scraper fingers 41 and 48. Said fingers are adjustableabout the axes of their supporting screws, whereby their facing surfaces(see 49 of Fig. 6) are movable toward and away from each other. Thosesurfaces are so designed as to engage, respectively, the opposite facesof the disc 25 in a region radially inwardly removed from the bevelledsurfaces 25 of said disc; and the fingers are formed with registeringnotches 58 and 5| in their facing surfaces, whereby they abruptly clearthe bevelled portions of the disc. The parts are so proportioned anddesigned that the fingers engage the disc in a line located below thehorizontal plane including the axis of the wheel, and inclineddownwardly and toward the vertical plane including the axis of thewheel. Otherwise stated, the fingers engage opposite disc surfaces onlines inclining radially outwardly in the direction of disc rotation.Therefore, as the wheel or disc 25 rotates in a counter-clockwisedirection, as illustrated, the engagement of the scraper fingers withthe disc surfaces tends to guide and force glue adhering to saidsurfaces radially outwardly onto the bevelled surfaces 26, where theglue will gather in a bead. In Fig. 6, I have shown. at 52, a film ofglue, belowl the scraper station, adhering to portions of the discextending radially inwardly from the bevelled surfaces; and I have shownat 53 the bead formation of glue which is produced as the disc movespast the surfaces 49 and notches 50 and 5i of the fingers 41 and 48.

The leaf 44 is so designed that its inherent resiliency tends to movethe fingers away from the vertical plane including the axis of the disc;and a screw 54 is mounted in a threaded aperture in the bracket 4I toengage the leaf 44 near ,its free end; so that, by adjustment of saidscrew. the position of the scraper fingers relative to said verticalplane may be manually adjusted. Obviously, manipulation of the screw 54will vary the size of the bead 53 of glue which forms on the peripheryof the disc 25, the bead size being increased by adjustment of thefingers toward the vertical plane including the disc axis, or decreasedby adjustment thereof away from said plane. As obviously, other means,such as a rectilinear guide and a slide mounted thereon, could beprovided for carrying the scraper fingers; but I consider theillustrated means to be most advantageous because of the elimination ofrelatively movable parts and the added resiliency, transversely of thedisc, inherent in the structure herein disclosed.

Since the scraper fingers are intended to engage the opposite surfacesof the disc, the adjustment thereof toward and away from each other is avery simple matter. .The screws 45 and 46 may be loosened and, with thengers straddling the disc, the fingers may merely be pressed together astightly as may be possible by hand. whereafter the screws 45 and 46 aretightened to hold the fingers in adjusted position. Problems which havearisen with previous structures as a result of wobbling of the disc areautomatically overcome by the present structure, since there issufficient lateral resiliency in the spring structure, particularlybecause of the U-shaped base thereof, to permit the fingers to followany such disc wobble. Adjustment of the radial depth of engagement ofthe fingers upon the disc is accomplished by the simple manipulation ofthe screw 54.

The various features herein described cooperate to improve the operationof the machine as a Whole by more effectively controlling the accurateapplication of glue to the facing edges of the sheets to be joined, moreeffectively controlling those sheets edges against buckling andwrinkling, and overcoming the tendencyy of previously-known devices toleave glue on the upper surfaces of the sheets edges and by moreaccurately and effectively accomplishing travel of the sheets throughthe machine.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a machine for applying liquid to the adjacent edges of sheets tobe edge-joined, a rotating disc. means for moving such sheets past saiddisc with each sheet substantially in contact with one face of theperipheral portion of said disc. means for continuously applying liquidto the preipheral portion of said disc at a point peripherally spacedfrom the point of operative association of said sheets with said disc,and scraper means located peripherally between said point of applicationof liquid to said disc and said point of operative association of saidsheets with said disc, said scraper means engaging both faces of saiddisc only in a region spaced radially inwardly from the disc peripheryand inclining 6 radially outwardly and in the direction of rotation ofsaid disc toforce liquid adhering to said disc faces to move radiallyoutwardly toward the peripheral edge of said disc as said disc rotates.

2. In a machine for applying liquid adhesive to the adjacent edges ofsheets to be edge-joined, a rotating disc, means for continuouslyapplying liquid adhesive to the opposite faces of said disc in theperipheral region thereof, means for moving a pair of sheets to bejoined simultaneously past said disc in substantial contact with saidopposite disc faces, the periphery of said disc projecting past bothboundaries of said sheet edges, and pressure means engaging said sheets,

after said sheets have passed said disc, and spanning the adjacent edgesof said sheets to urge liquid adhesive, deposited on said sheets beyondsaid boundaries, into the space between said edges.

3. 'In a machine for applying liquid to the adjacent edges of a pair ofsheets to be edge-joined. a platform, conveyor means for each of saidsheets extending longitudinally of said platform for cooperativeengagement with sheets supported on said platform, said conveyor meansconverging from the intake end of said machine toward the delivery endthereof, a shaft supporting elements of both said conveyor means at theintake end of thel machine, and a feed roller loosely supported on saidshaft between said respective elements and disposed for 'cooperationwith both of a pair of sheets fed to said machine, said conveyorelements frictionally engaging the opposite ends of said roller,respectively.

4. In a machine for applying liquid to the adjacent edges of sheets tobe edge-joined, a rotating disc, means for moving such sheets past saiddisc with each sheet substantially in contact with one face of theperipheral portion of said disc, means for continuously applying liquidto the peripheral portion of said disc at la point peripherally spacedfrom the point of operative association of said sheets with said disc,and scraper means located peripherally between said point of applicationof liquid to said disc and said point of operative association of saidsheets with said disc, said scraper means continuously engaging bothfaces of said disc only in a region spaced radially inwardly from thedisc periphery andI upon a chordal line inclining in the direction ofdisc rotation from the innermost point of engagement toward said discperiphery.

5. In a machine for applying liquid to the adjacent edges of sheets tobe edge-joined, a rotating disc, means for moving such sheets past saiddisc with each sheet substantially in contact with one face of theperipheral portion of said disc, means vfor continuously applying liquidto the peripheral portion of said disc at a point peripherally spacedfrom the point of operative association of said sheets with said disc,and scraper means located peripherally between said point of applicationof liquid to said disc and said point of operative association of saidsheets with said disc, saidv scraper means including portionscontinuously engaging both faces of said disc in a region spacedradially inwardly from the disc periphery and upon a chordal lineinclining in the direction of disc rotation from the innermost point ofengagement toward said disc periphery, and including other portionslaterally spaced from said disc at the periphery thereof, whereby liquidadhering to the faces of said disc is moved radially outwardly thereon,as said disc rotates, to gather as a bead at the disc periphery.

8. In a machine for applying liquid to the adjacent edges of sheets tobe edge-joined, a wheel mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, meansfor moving sheets past said wheel with each sheet substantially incontact with one face of the peripheral portion of said wheel, means forcontinuously applying liquid to the peripheral portion of said wheel ata point peripherally spaced from the point of operative association ofsuch sheets with said wheel, and scraper means located peripherallybetween the liquid-applying means and said point of operativeassociation of such sheets with said wheel comprising a leaf supportedat one end and resiliently movable at its other end toward and away fromthe vertical plane including the axis of said wheel, and two scraperfingers supportedl on the last-mentioned end of said leaf and engagingthe opposite faces of said wheel, respectively, in a region spacedradially inwardly from the periphery of said wheel, said fingers beingadJustable toward and away from the median plane therebetween.

7. In a machine for applying liquid to the adjacent edges of sheets tobe edge-joined, a wheel mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, meansfor moving sheets past said wheel with each sheet substantially incontact with one face of the pe. ripheral portion of said wheel, meansfor continuously applying liquid to the peripheral portion of said wheelat a point peripherally spaced from the point of operative associationof such sheets with said wheel, and scraper means located peripherallybetween said liquid-applying means and said point of operativeassociation of such sheets with said wheel comprising a leaf supportedat one end and resiliently movable at its other end toward and away fromthe vertical plane including the axis of said wheel, and two scraperfingers supported on the last-mentioned end of said leaf and engagingthe opposite faces of said wheel, respectively, in a region locatedbelow the horizontal plane including said wheel axis and being inclineddownwardly and toward said vertical plane.

8. In a machine for applying liquid to the adjacent edges of sheets tobe edge-joined, a wheel mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, meansfor moving sheets past said wheel with each sheet substantially incontact with one face of the peripheral portion of said wheel, means forcontinuously applying liquid to the peripheral portion of said wheel ata point peripherally spaced from the point of operative association ofsuch sheets with said wheel, and scraper means located peripherallybetween said liquidapplying means and said point of operativeassociation of such sheets with said wheel comprising a leaf supportedat one end and resiliently movable at its other end toward and away fromthe vertical plane including the axis of said wheel, and two scraperfingers supported on the lastmentioned end of said leaf and engaging theopposite faces of said wheel, respectively, in a region spaced radiallyinwardly from the periphery of said wheel, located below the horizontalplane including said wheel axis and being inclined downwardly and towardsaid vertical plane.

9. In a machine for applying liquid to the adjacent edges of sheets tobe edge-joined, a wheel mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, meansfor moving sheets past said wheel with each sheet substantially incontact with one face of the peripheral portion of said wheel, means forcontinuously applying liquid to the peripheral portion of said wheel ata point peripherally spaced from the point of operative association ofsuch sheets with said wheel, and scraper means located peripherallybetween said liquid-applying means and said point of operativeassociation of such sheets with said wheel comprising a leaf supportedat one end and resiliently movable at its other end toward and away fromthe vertical plane including the axis of said wheel, two scraper lingerssupported on the last-mentioned end of said leaf and engaging theopposite faces of said wheel, respectively, in a region spaced radiallyinwardly from the periphery of said wheel, and screw means engaging saidleaf and operative to shift the same, against the bias of said leaf, ina line normal to said vertical plane.

10. In a machine for applying liquid to the adjacent edges of sheets tobe edge-joined, a wheel mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis, meansfor-moving sheets past said wheel with each sheet substantially incontact with one face of the peripheral portion of said wheel, means forcontinuously applying liquid to the peripheral portion of said wheel ata point peripherally spaced from the point of operative association ofsuch sheets with said wheel, and scraper means located peripherallybetween said liquid-applying means and said point of operativeassociation of such sheets with said wheel comprising a leaf supportedat one end for adjustment about an axis normal to the vertical planeincluding the axis of said wheel and resiliently movable at its otherend toward and away from said plane. a pair of scraper fingersadjustably mounted on said last-mentioned leaf end for adjustment-toward and away from each other about parallel axes substantiallynormal to said vertical plane, said fingers engaging the opposite facesof said wheel, respectively, in a region' spaced radially inwardly fromthe periphery of said wheel, and adjustable means operatively associatedwith said leaf and operable to control the position of said fingersrelative to said vertical plane.

ll. In a machine for applying liquid to the adjacent edges of sheets tobe edge-joined, a support for a pair of such sheets, sheet-conveyingmeans extending longitudinally of the support and operable to convey apair of sheets simultaneously along said support in edge-facingseparated relation while continuously urging said sheets toward eachother, a disc mounted for rotation upon a transverse axis beneath saidsupport and projecting beyond said support a dis'- tance greater thanthe thickness of such sheets and into substantial contact with thefacing edges of such sheets, means for applying liquid to the peripheralportion of said disc to be transferred thereby to said sheets, and meanslocated immediately beyond said disc and flatly frictionally engagingthe upper surfaces of said sheets to urge liquid deposited on said uppersurfaces into the space between said sheets.

12. In a machine for applying liquid to the adjacent edges of sheets tobe edge-joined, a support for a pair of such sheets, sheet-conveyingmeans extending longitudinally of said support and operable to convey apair of sheets simultaneously along said support in edge-facingseparated relation while continuously urging said sheets toward eachother, a disc mounted for rotation upon a transverse axis beneath saidsupport and projecting beyond said support a distance greater than thethickness of such sheets and into substantial contact with the facingedges of such sheets, means for applying liquid to the peripheralportion of said disc to be transferred thereby to said sheets, and meanslocated immediately beyond said disc and flatly frictionally engagingthe upper surfaces of said sheets and bridging the space between saidsheets at a point before said sheet edges are moved into mutualengagement to urge liquid deposited on said upper surfaces into thespace between said sheets.

13. In a machine for applying liquid to the adjacent edges of sheets tobe edge-joined, a support for a pair of such sheets, sheet-conveyingmeans extending longitudinally of said support and operable to convey apair of sheets simultaneously along said support in edge-facingseparated relation while continuously urging said sheets toward eachother, a disc mounted for rotation upon a transverse axis beneath saidsupport and projecting beyond said support a distance greater than thethickness of such sheets and into substantial contact with the facingedges of such sheets, means for applying liquid to the peripheralportion of said disc to be transferred thereby to said sheets, aplurality of spring leaves mounted above said support, lncliningdownwardly and toward the delivery end of the machine and terminating inspatulae pointing toward said delivery end, said spatulae beingpositioned to bear resiliently upon the upper surfaces of sheets movingthrough the machine, in bridging relation to the space between thefacing edges of such sheets, and further spring leaves located onopposite sides of said disc, inclining downwardly and toward thedelivery end of the machine and terminating in spatulae pointing towardsaid delivery end, each of said last-named spatulae bearing resilientlyupon the upper face of one sheet only adjacent the edge of said sheetfacing said disc.

'14. In a machine for adhesively edge-joining sheets, a support for suchsheets, a pair of continuous conveyor units positioned for operativeengagement with sheets on said support, a feed roller positioned foroperative engagement with sheets on said support, two axially-spacedsprockets, each supporting one end bight of one of said conveyor units,common journal means for said sprockets and said feed roller, said feedroller lbeing located between said sprockets and being rotatableindependently of said sprockets, and axially-spaced sprocket meanssupporting the opposite end bight of each of said conveyor units, theaxial spacing between said last-named sprocket means being less than theaxial length of said feed roller, whereby said rst-named sprockets arecontinuously urged toward each other and into endwise frictionalengagement with said feed roller.

15. In combination with a rotating disc and means for continuouslysupplying a viscous liquid to the peripheral region ofsaid disc, ascraper device comprising a pair of fingers providing, adjacent theirfree ends, parallel scraping surfaces spaced apart a distancesubstantially equal to the thickness of said disc and respectivelyengaging opposite surfaces of said disc, and means supporting saidfingers with said surfaces inclined radially outwardly in the directionof disc rotation, the mutually-facing edges of said ngers retreatingfrom the planes of said disc surfaces directly adjacent the periphery ofsaid disc.

GEORGE M. GUS'I'IN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 497,299 Brigham May 16, 18931,339,107 Dittmar May 4, 1920 1,510,465 Dittmar Oct. 7, 1924 1,575,551Dove Mar. 2, 1920 2,305,525 Gustin Dec. l5, 1942 2,372,894 Gustin Apr.3, 1945

